Simple SummaryThe management of coccidiosis in poultry farms is mainly dependent on the use of anticoccidial drugs. Development of resistance to existing anticoccidial drugs coupled with restrictive use of antibiotics to control secondary bacterial infections following the ban on antibiotics, stresses the urgent need to explore alternative strategies for maintaining intestinal functionality in chickens for improved productivity. Prebiotics have been proposed as a solution to the intestinal problems of poultry. This study demonstrates that in ovo delivered prebiotics with or without antibiotics reduces severity of intestinal lesions and oocyst excretion induced by natural infection with Eimeria. Prebiotics protected Kuroiler chickens from coccidia in particular in the first 56 days of age and tended to have a synergistic effect with anticoccidial drug in the management of the disease post-infection in the field, with positive effects on performance and meat quality.AbstractA study was carried out to assess the efficacy of prebiotic delivered in ovo on performance, carcass traits, meat quality and gut health in the face of a natural coccidiosis infection in Kuroiler chickens. On d 12 of incubation, 150 fertile eggs were divided into a prebiotic group injected with trans-galactooligosaccharides (Bi2tos) and a control group uninjected. Hatched chicks from each group were further divided: One group received antibiotic chick formula while the other was left untreated, giving rise to 4 groups—Control (C), Antibiotic (A), Bi2tos (B), and Bi2tos + Antibiotic (AB). Prebiotic improved growth performance at six weeks of age, AB birds were the heaviest at the end of the rearing period. The highest intestinal lesion scores and oocyst counts were recorded in C birds. B group had a slightly higher carcass weight and cuts yields tended to be higher in treated groups compared to C. Meat from B group displayed a higher amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to C and a positively lower n-6/n-3 ratio compared to C and A. In conclusion, prebiotics with or without antibiotics reduced severity of intestinal lesions and oocyst excretion induced by natural infection with Eimeria, with positive effects on Kuroiler chicken productive traits.

Plastics have become an essential part of modern life today. The global production of plastics has gone up to 299 million tonnes in 2013, which has increased enormously in the present years. The utilization of plastics and its final disposal pose tremendous negative significant impacts on the environment. The present study aimed to investigate the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis for the production of fuel oil from the polyethene plastic wastes. The samples collection for both plastic wastes and clay catalyst, sample preparation and pyrolysis experiment for oil production was done in Laroo Division, Gulu Municipality, Northern Uganda Region, Uganda. Catalysts used in the experiment were acid-activated clay mineral and aluminium chlorides on activated carbon. The clay mineral was activated by refluxing it with 6M Sulphuric acid for 3 hours. The experiment was conducted in three different phases: The first phase of the experiment was done without a catalyst (purely thermal pyrolysis). The second phase involves the use of acid-activated clay mineral. The third phase was done using aluminium chlorides on activated carbon. Both phases were done at different heating rates. In purely thermal pyrolysis, 88 mL of oil was obtained at a maximum temperature of 39ºC and heating rates of 12.55ºC /minute and reaction time of 4 hours. Acid activated clay mineral yielded 100 mL of oil with the heating rates of 12.55ºC/minute and reaction time of 3 hours 30 minutes. While aluminium chlorides on activated carbon produced 105 mL of oil at a maximum temperature of 400ºC and heating rates of 15.5ºC /minute and reaction time of 3 hours 10 minutes. From the experimental results, catalytic pyrolysis is more efficient than purely thermal pyrolysis and homogenous catalysis (aluminium chlorides) shows a better result than solid acid catalyst (activated clay minerals) hence saving the energy needed for pyrolysis and making the process more economically feasible.

Hot smoking is among the oldest methods of preservation which mankind has used in food processing. Potential health hazards associated with smoked foods may be caused by carcinogenic components of wood smoke -mainly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives. This paper presents results based on the determination of PAHs in smoked Lates niloticus from three markets in Gulu district, northern Uganda. The samples were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (

Plastics have become an indispensable part of modern life today. The global production of plastics has gone up to 299million tones in 2013, which is believed to be increasing in the near future. The utilization of plastics and its final disposal pose a tremendous negative significance impacts on the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis for production of fuel oil from the polyethene plastic wastes. Catalysts used in the experiment were acid activated clay mineral and aluminum chlorides on activated carbon. The clay mineral was activated by refluxing it with 6M Sulphuric acid for 3hours. The experiment was conducted in three different phases: the first phase of the experiment was done without a catalyst where 88mL oil was obtained at a maximum temperature of 39 and heating rates of 12.5, reaction time of 4hours. The second phase involves the use of acid activated clay mineral where 100mL of oil was obtained and heating rates of 12.5 and reaction time of 3hours 30minutes. The third phase was done using aluminium chlorides on activated carbon and 105ml oil was obtained at a maximum temperature of 400 and heating rates of 15.5 reaction time of 3hours 10minutes. From the results, catalytic pyrolysis is more efficient than purely thermal pyrolysis and homogenous catalysis (aluminum chlorides) shows a better result than solid acid catalyst (activated clay minerals) hence saving the energy needed for pyrolysis and making the process more economically feasible.